Climbing the property ladder to success

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When you’re a first-time investor, you want your initial purchase to be a shrewd move. Follow these tips to make smarter property decisions for your future. Cec Busby reports.

Leave the emotions at the door

When you are buying your dream house it’s easy to be swayed by emotions, but an investment property is a different beast than your forever home. When you’re buying to invest it’s important to take a good hard look at the figures. What is the property valued at? What is the proposed rental return? Who are the potential tenants? What is the state of (dis)repair? Will maintenance be an issue? Looking at the finances and approaching your property purchase from a place of intellect rather than emotion will put you in good stead to make a savvy purchase.

What do you want from your investment?

Before you lay your cold hard cash down on the table and sign on the dotted line for a mortgage, work out what it is you want from your investment. What is your financial plan and how will buying this property contribute to your financial goals for the future? It’s also important to consider whether you want your property investment to serve as passive income or whether it’s for a tax write-off, as this will impact on the property you purchase and the rental yield it returns.

Study up on the area

You are not simply buying a property, you are investing into a community, so it pays to do your homework. Is your investment property in a growth area? What are the past sales histories? What kind of facilities are on offer in the neighbourhood? Is it located near good schools, public transport, a shopping centre? All these things will add value to any property you buy and will impact on the price should you decide to sell in the future.

Know your market

If you’re investing in a one-bedroom apartment in a country town, the chances are that your market for rental and resale will be limited. Why? Most homes in rural areas are 3-4 bedrooms. There is simply not the rental market for a one-bedroom apartment. Whereas a one or two-bedroom unit in Melbourne’s inner-city would certainly attract both buyers and renters as it suits the market. Understand what properties are popular in the area you are considering buying into. Opt to purchase something that meets the existing renter profile and you will improve your chances of finding a tenant and hopefully avoid vacancies.

Manage your cash flow

While you may not be paying for utilities such as electricity and gas, investment properties do come with the same costs as an owner-occupied home such as council and water rates and in the case of apartment buildings, strata fee and maintenance. The rental income you accrue may go towards supporting the payment of some of these costs. However, you will need to be able to manage your cash flow to ensure you have enough money in your budget to cover on going expenses as well as any unexpected costs that might occur.

Sometimes life throws you curve balls – the loss of a job, a partner or unexpected medical emergency can deplete savings and leave you struggling with debt. Seeking assistance is the first step towards solving your financial woes.

Use your bank, credit card statements and utility bills to get a full understanding of what you are spending, where and when.